Emotion Myths and Facts
True or False: Ignoring your feelings makes them go away.
False; Tends to make the emotion come back stronger.
You feel like yelling at a friend who annoyed you. What is one opposite action you could do instead?
Stay calm, speak politely, take a break, or walk away.
True or False. People sometimes use substances to avoid emotions.
True
Name one way your body might feel when you’re anxious.
Heart racing, sweaty palms, tense muscles, stomach butterflies, shallow breathing.
What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?
The letter "M"
True or False: Some emotions are "bad" and should always be avoided.
False; Emotions are messages even if the emotion doesn't feel good.
You think that your friend is mad at you because they didn’t say hi. What would checking the facts look like?
Consider other explanations — maybe your friend didn’t see you or was distracted.
What's one positive activity you could do instead of using when feeling stressed?
Answers vary! Drawing, journaling, exercising, etc.
True or False: You should always act immediately on your emotions.
False
I’m always in front of you but can’t be seen. What am I?
The future
True or False: You can identify your emotions by noticing how they feel in your body.
True; Emotions come along with sensations in the body and observing those helps us know what we feel.
You feel an urge to use when bored. Give one healthy distraction you could do instead.
Play a game, go for a walk, call a friend, listen to music, draw, or do a hobby.
You feel angry and want to smoke. What’s one healthy alternative?
Exercise, deep breathing, talk to a friend, etc.
True or False: Saying “I feel upset because…” is a healthy way to express emotions.
True; Focusing on "I feel..." statements and how you feel is better than saying "You made me feel..."
What has a head, a tail, is brown, and has no legs?
A penny
True or False: People can choose how to respond to emotions, even if they can't control when they feel them.
True; You can do something to change how you're feeling or respond in different ways to an emotion.
You’re frustrated because a teammate ignored you during practice. What are 2–3 strategies to handle your emotions?
Opposite Action: Smile and stay friendly instead of lashing out
Checking the Facts: Maybe they didn’t notice you, not intentionally ignoring
Deep Breathing: Calm your body before responding
Distraction: Listen to music or text a supportive friend after practice
Name one common trigger that might make someone want to use substances.
Stress, boredom, peer pressure, etc.
You feel like isolating yourself when sad. What could you do as an opposite action?
Reach out to a friend, join a group activity, or engage in something social.
What can fill a room but takes up no space?
Light
Challenge this myth: There is a right way to feel in every situation.
Everyone experiences emotions differently.
There’s no single “correct” way to feel — emotions are personal and based on past experiences, beliefs, and even biology.
What matters most isn’t what you feel, but how you respond to that feeling.
True or False: A helpful way to change an emotion is to create a new one.
True; You can change how you're feeling by creating a new emotion. For example, if you are sad about a breakup, you can watch a comedy to cheer you up.
What is something you can say to yourself when you feel stressed and want to use substances to help resist the urge?
"This feeling will pass, I don't have to act on it."
"I've used healthy coping skills before; I can do it again."
"I can take a break and breathe before deciding."
You know that you are seeing friends at a party where alcohol or other substances are available. What could you do to cope in advance?
Decide in advance to bring a non-alcoholic drink, identify a friend to check in with if feeling tempted, write down why you don't want to use in your phone to reference when you get there, and/or practice a phrase like “No thanks, I’m good” ahead of time.
What can you hold without ever touching it?
A conversation